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Bright idea: light therapy might ease IBD symptoms
NCT ID NCT06094608
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 02, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This study tests whether morning light therapy can improve sleep timing and reduce symptoms in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Sixty-eight adults with active IBD symptoms will either use a light therapy device at home for one hour each morning or continue their usual routine. Researchers will measure changes in quality of life, mood, and sleep disturbances over the study period.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Morning light treatment via Re-Timer device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to ease IBD symptoms and improve quality of life by adjusting sleep patterns.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study with only 68 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The light therapy may not improve symptoms, and some people may find it inconvenient or uncomfortable.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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64 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2024
- Finished
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Jun 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Biopsy-proven IBD * Active IBD symptoms * Impaired IBD quality of life * Age \>/=18 years old * Fluency in English * Physically able to travel for study visits Exclusion Criteria: * Ileostomy, colostomy, ileoanal pouch, or ileorectal anastomoses, are planned for imminent surgery and/or have short bowel syndrome * Other significant chronic disease * Retinal pathology, history of eye surgery, taking photosensitizing medications * Recent history of light treatment * Lifetime psychotic or bipolar disorder * Acute suicidal ideation * Substance use disorder in the past 3 months, cannabis use \>1/week * High risk for or diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, and/or narcolepsy * Severe hearing problem, intellectual disability or serious cognitive impairment * Pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding * Night work or travel outside the eastern time zone in the past month
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can early symptom relief predict who stays on IBD biologic?
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